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Astrium opens Production Centre for Ariane engines

Ottobrunn, 25 November 2002

* After a construction time lasting only twelve months, Astrium brings its Production Centre for Ariane engines into operation.
* Investments of € 20 million secure competitiveness of high-tech site Ottobrunn
* Minister Wiesheu: "Ariane Centre acts as driving force behind technology for Bavarian space industry"

Through its new Production Centre for rocket engines at the Ottobrunn site, Astrium Space Infrastructure is concentrating its competencies as Europe's leading manufacturer of thrust chamber systems for the space industry. In a special ceremony on Monday, Bavaria's Minister of State for Economics and Technology, Otto Wiesheu, and the CEO of EADS, Rainer Hertrich, officially opened the Ariane Centre. Astrium Space Infrastructure has invested a total of € 20 million in the modern Production Centre. On an area of 10,000 square metres, 160 highly qualified engineers and skilled workers will produce engines for the European launcher Ariane, the most successful launcher on the global commercial satellite transport market.

"In a period of only twelve months, we have succeeded in building our new high-tech Production Centre for launcher engines," noted Axel Deich, Director Propulsion and Equipment at Astrium Space Infrastructure and builder-owner of the Ariane Centre. "The concept and layout of the Ariane Centre will allow us to manufacture the same high quality products as always in less time and at a lower cost. This makes us interesting for other high-tech areas too. Today we already achieve revenues of € 2.5 million through the production of satellite and aircraft components."

Astrium has invested a total of € 20 million in the new Ariane Centre. Small and medium-sized businesses in Bavaria will benefit by receiving 80 percent of the contract volumes. Over 50 businesses were involved in the planning and construction of the Ariane Centre. "Through its Ariane Centre, Astrium is an important driving force behind technology for the Bavarian space and suppliers industry," said Minister Wiesheu. "Only by participating in European projects for the future will it be possible to preserve know-how and make use of the commercial space industry to its full advantage."

By bringing together all the manufacturing units under one roof at the Ariane Centre and introducing new production processes, it will be possible to reduce the throughput times for the production of Ariane engines by more than 30 percent. The optimisation of the manufacturing sequences also has a positive effect on the cost structure, resulting in a reduction of more than 35 percent – an important prerequisite for boosting Ariane's competitiveness. "If one compares the resources available for the space sector in Europe with those in the USA, the financial support offered in America is more than six times greater than that in Europe," commented Rainer Hertrich, CEO of EADS. "We will only be able to compensate for this competitive disadvantage through increased European research funds. The industry will play its part by optimising resources and continuing to improve the cost structure."

The thrust chamber systems for Ariane 5 are to be manufactured at the Ariane Centre in the future. The thrust chamber forms the core of every rocket engine. The most powerful Astrium product, Vulcain 2 – the thrust chamber for the main engine of Ariane 5 – can deliver a thrust of 135 tons, which corresponds to four million hp. Both Vulcain 2 and the cryogenic upper stage ESC-A (Etage Supérieur Cryotechnique A), which has also been developed by Astrium Space Infrastructure, will be used for the first time at the launch of Ariane 5 at the end of November. Also on board will be the HM-7 engine, which has already been used successfully on Ariane 4 and is now the engine for the first cryogenic upper stage ESC-A of Ariane 5.

Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, is a joint enterprise of EADS (75 percent) and BAE SYSTEMS (25 percent). Astrium Space Infrastructure develops and operates space laboratories and experimental systems, and produces stages and engines for the Ariane family as well as propulsion systems for satellites. Astrium Space Infrastructure has 3,000 employees and achieved revenues of just under € 700 million in 2001.

Important notes for press editors: This press release and high-resolution photos can be downloaded from the following website:

http://cs.ri.dasa.de/pr/

Ottobrunn, 25 November 2002

Your points of contact:

Astrium Space Infrastructure
Kirsten Leung
Tel: 0421-539-5326
Fax: 0421-539-4534

Astrium Space Infrastructure
Bianca Zotz
Tel: 089-607-27244
Fax: 089-607-29765